
Image credit – Arizona State University
Image credit – Arizona State University
The White House announced
Panchanathan has served as ASU’s chief research and innovation officer since 2010 and is also executive vice president of the university’s “knowledge enterprise.”
Panchanathan earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Madras in 1981 and went on to earn a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Ottawa in 1989. He stayed on as a professor at Ottawa until 1997 and founded the university’s Visual Computing and Communications Laboratory.
Panchanathan’s research has focused on human–technology interactions, including developing haptic user interfaces and “ubiquitous computing environments” that can enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. On his website
After joining ASU in 1997, Panchanathan became founding director of its School of Computing and Informatics in 2006. In 2001, he established the university’s Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing
Panchanathan has substantially engaged with NSF policy through his service on the National Science Board and served as chair of the board’s strategy committee. He is currently a member of its external engagement and national policy committees.
The board is responsible for shaping NSF’s budget priorities and reviewing major award decisions, particularly those involving the construction of large research facilities. It also produces topical reports
If the Senate confirms him as NSF director, Panchanathan will oversee a budget that currently stands at just over $8 billion. The agency funds all disciplines of science and engineering except for biomedical research, and it is the primary federal supporter of fundamental research in many fields, such as ground-based astronomy. Under Córdova, the agency has also sought to increase its focus on high-priority interdisciplinary research areas through its 10 Big Ideas
Panchanathan recently discussed his views on how NSF and other federal research agencies contribute to the U.S. economy at a hearing
“We are a global leader because of the strong federal investments in science, technology, engineering, higher education, and workforce development,” he said, adding, “I’m enthusiastic about American leadership in the industries of the future, especially in the areas of AI, data science, 5G, advanced manufacturing, synthetic biology, and quantum science.” Those areas correspond to ones that are currently prioritized
Panchanathan also pointed to NSF’s Big Ideas as an important tool for enhancing U.S. competitiveness and said “it is imperative that we increasingly focus on stimulating and seeding bold, large-scale foundational research with meaningful societal impact.”
Asked whether the U.S. remains the top destination for scientists from around the globe, Panchanathan said he believes that still holds true, but added,
We need to be more welcoming of such talent and aggregate that talent here. In fact, I often say, when we talk about the Thousand Talents program in China, why not have a Ten Thousand Talents program in the United States? Let’s play offense rather than defense.
Panchanathan also stressed the importance of partnerships, saying for instance that the U.S. should “incentivize building corporate research laboratories that seamlessly span academia and industry.” He further suggested more could be done to promote partnerships that tackle “grand challenge” problems.
“I think increasingly universities are recognizing that when you really want to solve a problem, it is not just a science problem, or an engineering problem, or a behavior problem, or a social problem, or a culture problem, or a policy problem. It is all of the above and more,” he said.
Correction: The initial version of this article incorrectly stated that Panchanathan’s nomination would be reviewed by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Though that committee has jurisdiction over NSF policy, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reviews personnel nominations for the agency.